PEORIA, Ill. — OSF HealthCare announced Wednesday all employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of September.
The decision was made based on information and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
OSF COO Mike Cruz, M.D., says it was a decision that took a lot of thought.
“As health care providers, it is our ethical obligation to be vigilant about the safety of our patients,” said Cruz. “Vaccinations are credited with the decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases across the country and throughout our Ministry, and we firmly believe that vaccination against COVID-19 is the best way to keep our patients and Mission Partners safe.”
OSF HealthCare currently requires all employees to get a flu shot every year and stay current with other vaccinations like measles, mumps, rubella, and whooping cough.
Exemptions are available for religious conscience or medical reasons and must be formally requested.
According to a release, any employee who does not qualify for an exemption and chooses not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine may be subject to OSF’s disciplinary processes which could result in loss of employment.
OSF HealthCare employs nearly 24,000 people in 150 locations.
